Towel cabinet



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,395

J- N. BORROUGHS TOWEL CABINET Filed April 16, 1923 INVENTOR JQSE/W .lY. 5088006645 QMM Q ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH N. BORROUGHS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

, TOWEL CABINET.

Application filed April 16, 1923.

My invention is an improved towel cabinet.

The object of my invention is to provide a towel cabinet in which a new supply. of towels may be placed, while a part of the previous towel is still in the cabinet.

My invention comprises a mechanical method of dispensing towels as it is commonly designated, comprising feeding a web of toweling from a zigzag pile in which the web is folded backwards and fOF-TttltlS in a series of plies. The folded pile is placed on a shelf with a narrow slit at the side thereof, so that the web maybe fed from the bottom of the pile.

The web is drawn downwardly by a series of feed rolls. My invention further contour plates attaching a clean folded pile of toweling to a nearly exhausted pile by means of at taching strings or tapes on the upper end of the lower pile and the lower end of the upper pile, whereby a continuous supply of toweling may be dispensed for use.

The cabinet used has a narrow shelf which does not greatly exceed the size of the pile in width, and has a narrow slot through which the web is drawn from the bottom of the pile. The hinged lid is used for the insertion of a clean towel pile. Feed rollers are located be low the shelf and draw on the webbing. the weight of the pile and its narrow confines causing sufficient resistance to maintain the web in proper alignment. 1

Another object is to provide a towel which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

In the annexed drawing in which my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of my cabinet.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view of 40' two towels secured together.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my cabinet consists of a box 1 which has a door 2 hinged to the front thereof, and a cover 3 hinged to the top.

A towel supporting shelf 4 is mounted near the top of the cabinet and is hinged at 5 while the other side rests on blocks 6 formed on the walls of the box 1.

The towel is adapted to travel between a roller 7 journaled in the walls of the box 1, and an idler roll 8, which presses against the roll 7 and is mounted on straps 9 which are Serial No. 682,250.

pivoted to the walls. A second pair of rollers 10 and 11 are positioned below the rollers 7 and 8,the roll 10 is journaled in the walls of the box 1, and the roll 11 is mounted on straps 12 which are pivoted to the box. The roll 7 rotates the roll 10 through suitable gearing 12. The towel passes between rolls 7 and 8, through an opening 13 in the top of the door 2 and an opening 11 in the bottom of the door thence upwardly between the rolls 10 and 11 and then drops into the bottom of the box 1.

The folded towel 15 is placed on the shelf 1: and threaded through the box as described above. Strings 16 are formed on the end ofthe towel, to which the new towel is secured. The new towel now follows the preceding towel through the rolls and it 'is not necessary to rethread each new towel. This is very desirable since it requires no skill and is quickly done.

It will be noted that the shelf 4 and the compartment there-above for the folded towel is not much larger in width, (that is,'fron1 front to back) than the zig-zag folded toweling in the pile. When the rolls for feeding the towel draw on the webbing they pull the lower folds; the weight of the pile, together withitsnarrow confines,in the towel compartment, gives a resistance to the withdrawal of the webbing, thereby preventing it from becoming twisted or otherwise disarranged in the feed roll.

Having described my invention I claim:

In a towel dispensing device, acabinet having a towel compartment in its upper portion and a feeding roll compartment in its lower portion, a shelf separating said compartments and adapted to hold a supply of toweling, said cabinet having an upper opening to permit a portion of said toweling to pass theret-hrough to be exposed for use, and a lower opening to permit the used toweling to pass back into the cabinet, a feeding roll disposed between said towel compartment and said upper opening to be actuated by the movement of the toweling thereover, and a second roll adapted to be actuated bysaid first mentioned roll and operative to retract the used toweling back into the cabinet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH N. BORROUGHS. 

